Systems and methods for conducting transactions and communications using a trusted third party

US7136840B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intertrust Technologies Corporation · US

Inventors

• Binyamin Pinkas · Nes Ziona, IL
• Tomas Sander · New York, US
• William G. Horne · Lawrenceville, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 22, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 22, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q2220/00
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for managing the transfer of electronic files. In one embodiment, a sender transfers an encrypted version of a file (such as a digitally encoded audio track, movie, document, or the like) to someone who wishes to receive it. The receiver computes a hash of the encrypted file, and sends it to a trusted third party. The trusted third party compares the hash that was computed by the receiver with another hash computed by the sender. If the two hashes match, the third party sends the file decryption key to the receiver. In some embodiments, the receiver may also send the third party payment information so that the sender, the content owner, and/or the third party can be paid for their role in the transaction. In a preferred embodiment, the payment information is only sent to, and/or used by, the third party once the third party has confirmed to the satisfaction of the receiver that the encrypted file in the receiver's possession will decrypt correctly. In some embodiments, the sender computes a hash of the encrypted version of the file and sends it directly to the third party. In other embodiments, the sender encrypts this hash using a key associated wi…